West Indies overcame a late wobble to secure a two-wicket win over India in the second T20 International.
But Pooran’s departure led to a slight stutter, as West Indies collapsed from 126 for 4 to 129 for 8, but Akeal Hosein and Alzarri Joseph got them home at Providence Stadium in Bourda.
India won the toss and elected to bat, but lost wickets at regular intervals.
Shimron Hetmyer was brilliant in the field in the first T20, taking three catches and making a bullet return for a run out, and he took a good catch at deep backward point to remove the dangerous Shubman Gill (7 off 9).
Kyle Mayers showed his prowess at run-outs with a brilliant effort to throw down one stump to remove Sanju Samson in the first T20, and he repeated the trick to send Suryakumar Yadav (1 off 3) back.
Be it Test cricket, ODIs or T20s, targeting the top of off stump has always been a good policy for a bowler. Romario Shepherd did that to perfection to knock over Ishan Kishan (27 off 23).
India rebuilt through captain Hardik Pandya and Tilak Varma.
International cricket has come naturally to Varma who, after hitting his first two scoring shots for six on his debut a couple of days ago, plundered 51 off 41 balls as India made 152 for 7 from their 20 overs.
West Indies made a torrid start with the bat, losing Brandon King first ball to a stunning catch by Yadav.
Hardik took a second wicket in the opening over when removing Johnson Charles (2 off 3), and Mayers (15 off 7) fell lbw to Arshdeep Singh.
Pooran has a tremendous record in Bourda, and he treated the India bowlers with disdain.
Captain Rovman Powell (21 off 19) provided excellent support, as West Indies appeared to break the back of the chase.
Powell became Hardik’s third victim of the game, but Hetmyer scored at a run a ball to support Pooran.
Pooran (67 off 40) was removed by Mukesh Kumar and Jason Holder (0 off 3) and Hetmyer (22 off 22) departed soon after.
The run rate at under a run a ball was in West Indies’ favour, eight wickets down was in India’s corner.
Hosein has shown excellent quality with bat and ball, and he and Joseph got themselves settled before pressing on.
Hardik declined to bowl out his most dangerous option, as spinner Yuzvendra Chahal bowled only three of his four-over allocation, and Joseph and Hosein used the pace on the ball to pepper the boundary and they reached their target of 153 with seven balls remaining.
The third T20 takes place in Bourda on Tuesday, and a win for West Indies would secure the series.
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